“Take This Job and Shove It” is a Country Song NOT a Best Practice
Summary:
Quitting a job is a choice that successful people often have to make. This article gives some helpful tips on how to leave a job without leaving a bad impression. Don’t burn a bridge when you are building your career.
“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.”
-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Sometimes it’s an easy choice to leave a company. However, leaving your current workplace in the best possible way is one of the most crucial decisions you will ever make for your career. Like any other relationship, there are faults and virtues in every company. At the end of a relationship, people tend to focus on their faults.
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
When you leave a company, it is like breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Regardless of how you do it, there will still be emotions. The longer the relationship, the deeper the feelings. Keep this in mind during the separation. People express their emotions in different ways so be prepared to respond with compassion.
IT’S A SMALL WORLD
I’ve learned firsthand not to burn bridges. In fact, I was hired by my former boss within two years of leaving the company. He had moved onto a bigger job with another company and thought of me when a position came open in his department. Since we already had a great relationship, the interview process was both short and painless. Also, the job was a significant step up for me both professionally and financially.
TO DO OR NOT TO DO?
DON’T say anything negative about the company or anyone working for the company. While this is a good policy to employ at all times, it is even more critical when you are leaving. Disgruntled employees may seek you out during this time to air their negative feelings about the company or people working for the company. Resist the temptation to entertain these conversations. Your comments will likely be shared with others.
DO give as much advance notice as possible to allow for a smooth transition. Typically, this is two to four weeks. Consider what’s best for the company when using your best judgment to determine how long you will need to devote. It’s also possible that the employer will urge you to quit right away, so be prepared for that possibility—especially if you want to work for a rival. This isn’t personal in any way, so don’t take it personally.
DO work hard until you leave. It’s perfectly natural to get “short-timer’s disease” as you have already mentally moved onto the new position. Whether discussing movies, books, or relationships; people generally remember the beginning and end more than the middle.
DON’T take anything that is not yours. Whether it’s a stapler, a book that belongs to the company, copy paper, or paper clips; leave them behind. While you’re at it, tidy up a bit.
DO make yourself available for your replacement. If the company hires your replacement before you leave, offer to train them. Even after you have departed, it’s a good idea to leave a phone number where you can be reached with times that it is acceptable to call.
DON’T abuse e-mail, the telephone, or the internet during your last days. Be sure to keep your communication as professional as you have during your tenure.
There’s no reason that you still can’t be friends when it’s over. If you are careful to maintain a good reputation with the company, its suppliers, its customers, and its employees; it will pay off considerably. It may not happen right away, but your paths will cross again.
